S. Hotokezaka et Pr. Manske, DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LOCKING LOOPS AND GRASPING LOOPS - EFFECTS ON 2-STRAND CORE SUTURE, The Journal of hand surgery, 22A(6), 1997, pp. 995-1003
The differences between locking and grasping configurations used to su
ture lacerated flexor tendons were evaluated using a 2-strand core mod
el in human cadaver tendon. Locking suture configurations tighten arou
nd bundles of tendon fibers with tension, while grasping loops do not
tighten around but pull through tendon fibers and distract with tensio
n. The greatest tensile strength was found in 1-locking, 2-locking, an
d 2-grasping suture loop configurations per suture strand. The 2-grasp
ing loops per suture strand, however, had the great est distraction (g
apping) as the suture material pulled through the tendon. A single loc
king configuration per strand yielded the maximum tensile strength wit
h reduced distraction (gapping) at the repair site.